Remember when we discussed culturally relevant teaching? Culturally Responsive Math is very similar.
Culturally Responsive Math is a math education method developed based on the culturally responsive teaching framework. Educators provide instruction that supports the development of critical thinking skills around mathematical concepts.
Defining culturally responsive teaching
According to an article published by American University, culturally responsive teaching is a student-focused and centered approach to learning. It is rooted in the idea that every student is comprised of their own unique viewpoint and as a result brings their own cultural strengths into the classroom.
"Recognizing and nurturing those strengths not only encourages success but also promotes an open-minded, supportive environment that celebrates cultural differences."(1)
For culturally responsive teaching to be successful, culturally responsive teaching strategies have to be included in every part of the educational model from the way the curriculum is designed to how it will be accessed.
"Culturally responsive teaching is not a secondary or supplemental approach to education. Instead, every learning opportunity and school activity should take the ancestral and contemporary cultures, beliefs, and traditions of students into account. This could include observing your students’ significant holiday traditions in class or seeking to understand how and why your students and their families may value particular subjects more than others." (2)
Culturally responsive teaching means understanding the current cultural norms and values at play in and around your students in order to provide them with the most equitable environment and space for their education to thrive. It is about learning from your students and their families in order to facilitate an educational path they can buy into as a community.
Why Culturally Responsive Math?
Culturally Responsive Math (CRM) builds on the culturally responsive teaching framework and brings it into the practice of math education.
In culturally responsive math classrooms, students feel safe and empowered to share their math reasoning with others. As a result, a space is created where all learners are engaged.
Here are five things you can expect to see in a classroom where CRM is employed (3):
#1 An inclusive classroom environment
This includes a space where students not only feel safe enough to share, but also are encouraged to collaborate, solve problems, and discuss concepts. Examples of this can be students working together on a daily math problem, providing a comfortable location for students to gather to talk about math, or even providing games in math centers.
#2 Expectations that are clearly communicated
Low expectations can impact student motivation and learning, but proper scaffolding and modeling can help students achieve rigorous goals without experiencing overwhelm.
This can include scaffolding questions instead of skipping to another student when they struggle or providing step-by-step photo directions for all learners. In addition, modeling math conversations is a best practice strategy to engage learners and help them access the conversation.
#3 Math Conversations happening regularly
In these classrooms, students won't just complete the work, they will be able to justify their thinking in a judgment-free zone. Through conversing with others, students cement their knowledge by teaching and refining their understanding.
This can be seen through a routine of discussing warm-up problems together, students explaining their reasoning during co-working opportunities or math centers, or even providing prompts or sentence stems to keep the conversation going.
#4 Critical Thinking is expected
These educators ask more open-ended questions that require higher-order thinking skills. Making connections to the world around them, or even extending the application of a problem can help to cement the concepts being taught and enhance learning.
In a CRM classroom, educators provide opportunities for students to reflect on their current knowledge through open-ended questions, and they encourage discussion to reinforce what they are currently learning.
# 5 Student Empowerment
Educators that employ CRM recognize that students are more confident when they can express and reflect on their thinking, but also when they have ownership. Educators create buy-in by allowing students to create problems for others, share ideas, and take on roles and responsibilities in groups.
In conclusion, the goal of CRM is student engagement at the highest level. It moves beyond a mastery of math facts or equations and leads students into a safe place for exploration-based education. It is this type of dynamic involvement that will help students of all ages and backgrounds meet their educational goals, and begin to bridge the achievement gap that exists in our schools.
Transform your classroom with this innovative leadership today! Contact Village Life Education to learn how you can engage ALL of your learners and unlock the potential within your educational community.
(1) Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies: Importance, Benefits & Tips by AU School of Education
(2) Ibid.
(3) Culturally Responsive Teaching: What Every Math Teacher Needs to Know by Mr. Elementary Math